The travel advice of the FDFA provides information on the security situation in a country. It focuses on security and safety-related issues in the areas of politics and crime, gives an assessment of potential risks and recommends certain precautions.

Contact the local Swiss representative or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new pass, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

Reinstatement of citizenship after forfeiture, relief or loss of Swiss citizenship

Art. 27 of the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA) provides that anyone who has lost Swiss citizenship may apply for reinstatement of citizenship within 10 years and, after the expiry of that period, anyone who has resided in Switzerland for three years may apply to have their Swiss citizenship reinstated.

For example, if a female Swiss citizen lost her Swiss citizenship

by marrying a foreign national before 1 January 1992;

through forfeiture: i.e. because they were born abroad, the Swiss representation was not notified within the prescribed period, and the birth was not registered in the Swiss civil register;

through relief of citizenship;

she may apply for reinstatement of Swiss citizenship within the time limits specified in Art. 27 SCA.

List of documents required for the application in accordance with Art. 27 para. 1 SCA

The following documents, including documents about respect for public security and order, must also be submitted – the representation can give you information about the documents which can be issued in your country of residence abroad:

Criminal record extract;

Debt claims register extract;

Tax certificate;

Confirmation concerning receipt or non-receipt of social welfare benefits;

Confirmation concerning record, or absence of record, of criminal offences in the case of minors.

Please note:

Documents which are not completed in full in a Swiss national language, dated and signed, or illegible documents, will be sent back to you.

The originals of the foreign documents requested may not be more than three months old (six months for civil status documents) and must be certified by the competent foreign authority.

Documents which are not in German, French or Italian must be accompanied by a certified translation into a Swiss national language.

After the representation has received your application pack for simplified naturalisation, it will arrange a mutually convenient date for a personal interview which will, as a matter of principle, be conducted in a Swiss national language.

You will be invited to come to the representation in person for the interview, accompanied by minor children aged 12 and above who are included in the application.

During the personal interview with the applicant (as part of the process a separate interview will take place with minor children aged 12 and above who are included in the application) the following points, among others, will be examined:

close connection with Switzerland i.e. in particular:
- regular stays in Switzerland (at least three stays of at least five days each in Switzerland in the past six years);
- knowledge of a Swiss national language;
- general knowledge about Switzerland (geography, history, politics, society etc.) – see the «Links» section for useful links to prepare for the personal interview;
- contacts with Swiss nationals;
- persons resident in Switzerland to whom reference can be made;

respect for public security and order;

respect for the values of the Swiss Federal Constitution,

participation in gainful activity or acquiring an education;

promoting and supporting the integration of family members, i.e. in particular:
- learning a Swiss national language;
- participation in gainful activity or acquiring an education in the country of residence;
- participation in the social and cultural life of Swiss nationals.

The Swiss representation generally submits its report on the collected data to the SEM within 12 months (Art. 22 SCO).

The SEM generally rules on simplified naturalisation or reinstatement of citizenship applications within 12 months of receiving the application file and the report on the collected data from the competent Swiss representation (Art. 23 SCO).

The competent Swiss representation must be notified of any change of address or any event affecting the civil status (marriage, separation, divorce, death, adoption, etc.) during this period.

The Ordinance on Swiss Citizenship (SCO) stipulates the relevant fees.

To cover the costs of processing an application of reintegration, the representation requires applicants to pay an advance fee upon submission of the application.

The advance fee must be paid in the currency stipulated by the Swiss representation at the current exchange rate. The advance fee must cover the following costs:

Fees and disbursements

CHF

SEM and the cantonal authority fees:

a.) adult at the time the application is submitted

600.00

b.) minor at the time the application is submitted (individual application)

350.00

Swiss representation fee

75.00 per half hour

Transmission costs (abroad > Switzerland)

5.00

No fee is charged for minors included in an application of one of their parents.

These fees are not refundable if the SEM rejects the application or the application is withdrawn during the procedure.

For further information, please contact the competent Swiss representation in your country of residence.

Important

Swiss law recognises dual citizenship. You can in principle keep your original citizenship. Acquisition of Swiss citizenship may, however, result in loss of your original citizenship if the law of your country of origin requires it. Relevant official information can be obtained from the authorities of the country of origin.